Bay Partner Community Awards

Local governments play a critical role in helping to restore the Chesapeake Bay and the many local streams and rivers that drain into the Bay. Counties, towns, boroughs, cities, and townships throughout the watershed are taking action at the local level to protect water quality, use land wisely and provide for natural habitats. The Chesapeake Bay Program’s Local Government Advisory Committee created the Bay Partner Community Awards program to recognize many of the more than 1,650 local governments that are doing their part to be good stewards of their land and water resources.

Since the program’s inception, 73 local governments have been selected as Bay Partner Communities. Chesapeake Bay Partner Communities are selected for their accomplishments in four theme areas based on the goals set forth in Chesapeake 2000. Communities receive varying levels of recognition – Gold, Silver and Bronze – based on their level of achievement. Policies and programs are grouped under the following four themes:

• Improving Water Quality activities remediate storm water problems, treat wastewater for nutrient pollution and practice eco-friendly methods of resource management (e.g., alternative fuels, integrated pest management and sound fertilizer management on public parks)
• Promoting Sound Land Use policies, regulations and programs support environmentally sensitive development, protect farmlands and forest lands that are important to watershed health and promote growth where water and sewer infrastructure already exists
• Protecting and Restoring Living Resources and Habitat initiatives protect and restore habitat areas (such as bay grasses, marshes, wetlands, streams and forests) and encourage the migration of fish that spawn in fresh water upstream of the Bay by removing fish blockages on streams and rivers
• Engaging the Community educational programs and events engage people from diverse backgrounds in environmental and watershed protection activities, raise citizens’ awareness of their role in protecting their natural resources and develop partnerships with community associations, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector to find innovative ways to protect their local watersheds.

Recipients of the Bay Partner Community Awards receive local and regional recognition through media exposure, recognition by the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council at its annual meeting, a framed Bay Partner Community citation, and a roadside sign identifying them as a Chesapeake Bay Partner Community.

Take pride in your contributions to clean water and sound land use by applying for a Bay Partner Community Award. Applications are accepted at any time, and awards are announced quarterly.

Past Recipients

• 2006 Recipients
  • Four Virginia Local Governments Recognized for Efforts to Protect Chesapeake Bay and Local Waters (78 kb)
  • Six Maryland Local Governments Recognized for Efforts to Protect Chesapeake Bay and Local Waters (76 kb)
  • Six Pennsylvania Local Governments Recognized for Efforts to Protect Chesapeake Bay and Local Waters (80 kb)
• 2005 Recipients (116 kb)
• 2004 Recipients (313 kb)
• 2003 Recipients (118 kb)
• Past recipients from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia (60 kb)

Interested in applying to become a Bay Partner Community? Contact Rick Keister, or call 410-377-6270.